Abstract

Building upon earlier studies on ageism in the media and the polarised ageism framework, this contribution compares the prevalence of three forms of ageism – intergenerational, compassionate and new ageism – in four Canadian and American newspapers. The analysis has three objectives. First, it adapts the polarised ageism framework to a comparative case study to assess its usefulness beyond Canada. Second, it analyses which form of ageism occurs more frequently in the coverage of ageing-related stories in Canadian or American newspapers. Third, it studies the importance of the political orientation of news media across both countries by comparing the portrayal of ageing-related stories in conservative and liberal newspapers. Core findings include the presence of a stronger focus on intergenerational ageism in American and conservative newspapers and more frequent prevalence of compassionate ageism in Canada and liberal newspapers. American newspapers also typically employ more pejorative and sensational language.

Bowling, A. and Dieppe, P.2005. What is successful ageing and who should define it?BMJ: British Medical Journal, 331, 7531, 1548–51.

Clark, P. G.1993. Public policy in the United States and Canada: individualism, familial obligation, and collective responsibility in the care of the elderly. In Hendricks, J. and Rosenthal, C. (eds), The Remainder of Their Days: Domestic Policy and Older Families in the United States and Canada. Routledge, London, 13–48.

Gee, E. M.2000. Population and politics: voodo demography, population aging, and Canadian social policy. In Gee, E. M. and Gutman, G. M. (eds), The Overselling of Population Aging: Apocalyptic Demography, Intergenerational Challenges, and Social Policy. Oxford University Press, Toronto, 5–25.

Korpi, W. and Palme, J.2003. New politics and class politics in the context of austerity and globalization: welfare state regress in 18 countries, 1975–1995. American Political Science Review, 97, 3, 425–46.

McDaniel, S. A.2000. ‘What did you ever do for me?’ Intergenerational linkages in a restructuring Canada. In Gee, E. M. and Gutman, G. M. (eds), The Overselling of Population Aging: Apocalyptic Demography, Intergenerational Challenges, and Social Policy. Oxford University Press, Toronto, 130–53.